Ok..I have been trying to solve this myself but to no avail. I have a 01 sunfire and the power windows are working somtimes but not other times. It does it both going up or down, but there is no pattern. I took apart the switches and cleaned the contacts and it still does the same thing. The dealer wants $110 for a new switch group but I am not 100% sure it is that and being its a non-refundble part I want to make sure its 100% that before I buy it. Are there any other things to check (relays or whatnot) and IF it is the switches is there an aftermarket site that would sell them, my local junkyard dosnt have any.

its more than likely the motor. but you can check by hooking a 12V source directly to the window motor and by passing the switch....





GO PATS!!!

You test switches by doing a voltage drop over them with the system operating, less than 0.3DC is a must, otherwise the part is bad.

You can buy the part cheaper at junkyards.

Let me give you my experience, typically when motors fail, the windows will work but go up slower and slower, to much mechancial resistance inside of them, until one day they fail totally.

Switches seem to work one day, and maybe not the next, this is due to poor contacts internally, or from the switch to the motor, wiring is loose.

Be sure to check all grounds before replacing parts also.




- 2004 Cavalier - 124k, owned since new

I really dont think it would be the motors....I mean what would the chances be that both the driver and passenger motor both failed around the same time....thats why I am leaning toward the switches but I just want to make sure...

I think it is the switches to. I would be a voltage drop over them to be sure first though.

You need a multimeter and two t-pins


- 2004 Cavalier - 124k, owned since new

How exactly would I go about checking for a voltage drop...like what is the exact procedure so I can figure this problem out...it sucks not having windows that work

Well you have 12V coming in, and it leaves and goes to a ground completing the circuit.

So you need to T pin where the 12V come in at, and the other one goes to the ground wire, right where it leaves the switch.

Now you have the Tpins in there, connect the multimeter leads to each Tpin.

Now when you press the switch is when you find out if you have a voltage drop. You need to the switch to be operating to see if you have a voltage drop, if you have more .3V- .5V DC, you have a bad switch.


- 2004 Cavalier - 124k, owned since new

ok.,..today I got a brand new switch block (both switches) and installed it... I still have the same problem ...the driver AND pass. window's go down fine..but will not come up..to get them up I have to shut the car off and then turn it back on, on top of that I have to have somone pinch the window and lift it up to take the weight off the track. REPEAT this for about an hour each window or until pissed off. The window goes up about 1/4" each time on its own and then just stops....shut the car off and start it again and then it will do the same over and over again until it is all the way up. I found that there is a relay in the fuse panel that is in the pass. compartment, It says "Power window relay"....would there be a chance that this could be the problem that they go down but not back up? and where would somone buy one of these...any local autoparts store carry them? I am running out of options here and I still dont think that both window motors burned out at the exact same time...its just too much of a coninsodience

personally i think its the motors or the tracks are getting gummed up. my passanger side does that from time to time. try lubricating the tracks first.



1997 RedR - ZedR

Ill pull my panel and see if I can see anything binding or whatnot....and while Im in there I will give everything a good shot of lube for good measure....any idea's if it could be the relay ?

generally when a really goes you start having either weired problems of the window not going up or down at all or sometimes even on its own (which i hope isnt a common occurence but is possible) if you can get it to move an inch at a time, i would bank more on the motor starting to go or it binding on something.



1997 RedR - ZedR

I understand what your saying..but its both the driver and pass. windows....both motors going/binding at the exact same point in time...if so ...I am playing the lottery ....just seems like it would be somthing else

MOTORS!!!! - I had them both go out about the same time
and there no relays involved in the wiring of your window motors